Spade or shovel.



PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905.

J. W. REED. SPADE OR SHOVEL.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 17,1905.

Hurrah sit-eras PATENT @FFlG JESSE W. REED, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPADE OR SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905;

Application filed August 17, 1905. Serial No 274,592.

" it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in. spades or shovels; and itconsists of certain novel features of construction, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andefiicient spade or shovel which may be readily forced into the groundand which will cut or sever the roots of plants, bushes, and smalltrees;

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this characterwith a removable or interchangeable handle of simple and durableconstruction.

The above and other objects, which will appear as the nature of myinvention is better understood,are accomplished bymeans of theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a perspective view of the rear face of a spade constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through theblade, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View through the handle.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes the blade of a spade,shovel, or similar implement, which is flat and tapered slightly fromits upper or inner end to its lower or outer end. The lower end. of theblade 1 is curved or rounded, as shown at 2, and its side edges areformed with cuttingteeth 3. The two or three teeth nearest the bottom 2are curved or rounded, as shown at 4, and the remaining ones angularlike the teeth of a saw, the short face 5 of each tooth being disposedsubstantially horizontally and the long face 6 being inclined outwardlyand upwardly. Both the bottom and side edges of the blade are beveledupon their rear faces,

so that the edges of the teeth are sharp to permit them to cut or severthe roots of plants, bushes, and the like. ing the blade in this mannerit may be readily driven into the earth by pressing downwardly with thefoot upon the straight upper edge of the same.

The handle 8 of theblade may be of any desired form and secured to theblade in any manner; but I preferably provide uponsa'id blade a clampingdevice or socket 9, so that when broken, or oneof a different style maybe substituted. This device 9 consists of two substantially semicircularstra s 10, which have their lower ends welded, riveted, or otherwisesecured upon the opposite faces of the blade 1 at the center of itsupper end. vThese straps 10 form between them a socket to receive thelower end of the handle-8, and they are spaced apart by a block or plug11, which is riveted between them, as shown at 12. The handle 8 isremovably secured be tween the straps 10 by means of screws 13, whichhave their heads 14 countersunk in the upper strap. The body portions ofsaid screws extend through openings in the handle 8, and their threadedends are engaged with threaded openings 1.5, formed in the lower strap10, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This constructionpermits the handle to be removed when broken or when it is desired tosubstitute a different form of handle. It will be seen that with slightchanges this handlefastening means may be used upon pitchforks and otherimplements. From the foregoing description, taken in ings, theconstruction and operation of the invention will be readily understoodwithout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of thisinvention.

Having thus described 31) y invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is i The herein-described spade having aflat blade tapered downwardly, roundvdat its resorted to withoutdeparting from the prin-- By constructthe handle may be removed andreplaced I connection with the accompanying drawlower edge, provided onits "side edgesnext I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set its loweredge with rounded teeth and having my hand in presence of twosubscribing witto angular teeth on its side edges, each having nesses.

an upper horizontal short face and an outer 1 inclined long face, theside and bottom edges of the said blade being beveled on their rearWitnesses:

side to form cutting edges for the bottom FREDERICK J. B. SERALD, edgeofthespadev and for the teeth. WILLIAM IL FLYNN.

J ESSE' W. REED.

